Bicycle



Patented Nov. 11, 1924.

UNITED-STATES PATENT ,y OFFICE.

HOWARD c. PAULY, 0E MoNToLAIn, NEW JERSEY.

L] iaIcYomi.k

' Application medzbetmber 2a, 192s.y Serin no. 608,411.`

To all whom t may concern.' 7" i f Be it known that "I, HQWARDCQPALY, a citizen of the yUnited States' of America, residing at Montclair, in the countyof Essex and State of'New Jersey, have invented cer-y tain new and useful Improvements in 'Bicycles, of ywhich the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.` ,y fr I l This invention rel tes to a combined bicycle and coaster which is `particiilarly adapted for theuse of children.` y y n y f An object of the invention is to' combine in a single device the functions ofa bicycle operate l j wheels and of a rcoaster or so-called pusher which maybe propelled by pushing on'the ground with one foot.' n

A further fobject ofthe invention is. the

provision of a frame member which is adapted to beas'sembled with standard parts now on the market to form adevice kof the l above character.

In the preferred formof the invention, two wheels are employed, the front .wheel assembly being `similar to that usually employed yin 'three wheel ve'locipedes.k The frame is longerthan that of the ordinary velocipede and carries between the front and rear wheels, a platform or step for receiving a childs foot. This step is in the common vertical plane ofthe wheels and is preferably lower than they axis of the smaller rear wheel. The front wheel is provided with pedals and a seat is placed in a convenient position with respect to the pedals. The handle bars are in position to be held by the rider'both when standing on the platform and when sitting on the seat.

An arrangement is thus provided which can be used by the child as a pusher or as a bicycle at will. On account of the ease with which the change can be made from one method of operation to the other, the difficulties in learning to ride a bicycle are practically all removed. The average six year old child, without previous experience, can learn to ride the device as a bicycle in a very few minutes.

Further objectsfof the invention will appear from the following detailed description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bicycleembodying the invention,Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the main frame member on a larger scale by` power applied'to one of itsy than Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a detail view. of a joint inthe frame, Fig. 4c isa transverse section through the step showing-.the method of atcaching the step to thefframe, and Fig. 5 is a detail view of the front fork showing.. a modification. l f v Referring tothe drawings by reference numerals, the front 'wheel 10 is mounted on a fork 12 and is provided with pedals 14;. Handle bars 16 are secured bya clamp v18 in the usual stem or shaft at the upper part ofy fork 12. standard parts used yin childrens velocipedes. This is also true of the kseat 20 and the upper frame member 22 with the sleeve 24 in which the fork 12 isA pivotally mounted. Theseat 20 may be secured at the derear. ends. -The rear -wheel 28 which mayv benof the ltype and size used in childrens coasters is. mounted in suitable openings in the rear terminals of the frame. Astep or' small platform large enough to receive the The parts just mentioned yare childs foot, is mountedS on the horizontal Y portion of the frame and secured thereto by suitable means suchas the clamps indicated at 32.

A suitable manner of joining the frame I members is indicated in Fig. 3 where the members 22 and 26 are shown as formed of tubing flattened at the joint, a flat piece of metal 34: being inserted in the larger member 22 for additional strength. Other 'ways of making the frame will be obvious to one skilled in thek art. The tubular construction shown is merely illustrative and, ofcourse, the Y-joint may be of any suitable form and may be placed at any desired point between the rear wheel and the front fork.

As will be readily understood, the child places one foot on the step 30, grasping the handle bars and pushes on the ground with the otherk foot until a certain momentum is attained. If he is already accustomed to guiding a coaster, he will easily assume a sitting' position with his feet on the he will have no diliculty in learning to use it as a pedal-operated bicycle.

If so desired, the seat can be removed until such time as the child becomes proficient in the steering and general use of the device as a pusher, In this condition it has been noted that the older boys place one foot on the step and reach forwardv to one of the pedals with the other foot, tlmspropelling the cycle from a standing'y position.

Since the step with the` wheels and very near the ground, it is easy to maintain equilibrium when goingatl slow speeds asv when starting and stopping. The longer wheel base also stabilizes the cycle, especially when encountering obstruction in the roadfor riding oli' curb stones. f

While only one embodiment of the inven` V tion has beendisclosed, it obviously is ca# pablelof assuming other forms within scope and spirit of the appended claims. For eX- ample, Vthe pedals for operating the.- front -wheel may be omitted and the device used as a coaster, the seat being retained and any suitable foot rests being provided, such as those indicated at 33 in Fig. 5.

What is claimed is: 1. A bicycle having a front wheel and rear -wheeln-ormally in alignment with each` other, a step between said wheels and having provision for receiving a riders footin the common vertical plane of said wheels, ra seat, and pedal-operated mechanism connectedto one of said wheels, said seat being mounted on said bicyle in position for op` leration of said mechanlsm by a rider seated ing a riders 30`is loca-ted in alignmenty thereon, the scope above and at both sides of said step beingfree and unobstructed.

2. A bicycle havinga front wheel and a rear'wheel normally in alignment with each other, a step between said wheels for receivfoot in the common vertical plane of said wheels, a seat mounted in alignment with said wheels, and handle bars l connected to said front Wheel and being operable either from said seat or from said step, the space above and at both'sides of said step being free and unobstructed.

3. .In a bicycle, front and rear wheels nor-` mally in alignment witheach other, pedals for yoperating'said front wheel, a frame comprisingl an velevated portion l adjacent said front wheel, a seatmountel on'said elevated portion, and a step mounted on said frame, and having provision for receiving a riders foot in a positionbetween and-in alignment with said wheels, the space above and at bothsides of said step being free and'unobstructed.r n I f f 4. A vehicle framehaving a substantially horizontal portion, and .an inclined portion .rising Afrom'said horizontal portion, a. step mounted on said horizontal portion, means at the free end of said inclined portion for pivotally mounting a front runner unit, means for attaching a seat to the rear of said pivotal mounting, and means for mounting c a runner at the rear of said horizontal por-` tion, said -step having provision `for holding a riders foot between said runners and in the common vertical plane of their tread portions, the `space above and yat both sides of said step being free and unobstructed.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe;

my name this 21st day of December, A. D., 1922. c

HOWARD cQrAULY. 

